ABSTRACT
The history of the birth of Rome and its early monarchical period is mixed with myth and legend. After the Roman monarchy fell (51 0 BC), coinciding with the end of Etruscan domination in Lazio and the decline of Greek influence, the aristocracy became powerful. The internal history of Rome in the 5th and 4th centuries BC was largely the plebeians' struggling against patricians for recognition of their political rights. Externally, Rome began expanding, conquering Lazio and part of Campania. After several wars, invasions, and alliances, Rome gained direct or indirect control over all of peninsular Italy (300 BC). During a period of vigorous expansion, the Romans conquered northern Italy and areas of the Mediterranean basin, north Africa, Europe, and Asia Minor. Beginning with Rome's expansion into the Mediterranean basin until300 AD, Rome was identified with Italy, while the Romans of Italy were distinguishable from the other peoples of the empire. Their political and cultural uniformity induced some scholars (Salvatore IIi, 1938; Salvadori, 1965) to claim that the Italian nation was born then. The history of the Roman empire is well known. Here, we emphasise Rome's legacy: a vast, complex heritage that fathered Western civilization as the Romans' language, legal and political culture, art, architecture, town planning, and engineering spread through the lands they conquered. It should also be pointed out that the concept of citizenship (as the possession of rights and duties) was born, developed, and disseminated in the Roman world. The legacy of Rome is much more apparent in Italy than in other countries, although it has been very influential in these areas as well. There was an historical and cultural continuity
whereby the Italian educated class still regarded itself as part of the Roman tradition; for a long time, an Italian intellectual elite spoke and wrote Latin. Until recently, studying Latin and its classical literature was compulsory in Italian middle schools. The Catholic church encouraged continuing the Roman tradition. Its founders were Roman citizens and embraced Latin culture. Catholicism, which permeated Italian history and culture, is suffused with Roman concepts.
